understand what the condition is

To better understand what the symptoms of Hashimoto’s Syndrome, you first need to know the origin of the condition. And, according to Dr. Paula da Rocha Jaskulski, a doctor specialized in endocrinology and metabolism at the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), the problem is directly related to metabolism. In the end, It is a chronic autoimmune inflammation of the thyroid.

The gland is responsible for the production of thyroid hormones, T3 and T4, which are responsible for metabolism. When hypothyroidism is present, what happens is a reduction in it.

Symptoms of Hashimoto’s Syndrome

“After this, the patient begins to feel: tiredness, drowsiness, menstrual changes, reduced libido, difficulty concentrating, constipation, dry skin, heartbeat may become slower and there is also hair loss and fluid retention, causing the patient to gain around 3 kg”, he explains.

After experiencing symptoms, laboratory tests are carried out, such as measuring TSH, which is produced by our pituitary gland and is the “master” of the thyroid. “When it reduces the production of T3 and T4, TSH increases in an attempt to compensate for this reduction in hormone production. Initially, this can maintain a certain balance. However, over time, it is not enough and the patient develops a reduction in hormones T3 and T4, which is called frank hypothyroidism.”

Diagnosis and treatment

Despite being a disease that has no cure, treatment is usually effective in controlling symptoms. “We perform hormone replacement with levothyroxine, varying the dose according to each case. Adjustments will often be necessary during treatment. There is a lot of speculation about factors that could mitigate the attack on thyroid cells, such as selenium and vitamin D, but studies are still were unable to prove this benefit”, says the edocrinologist.

To live with Hashimoto’s Syndrome it is necessary to consume some foods in moderation, such as cauliflower, soybeans, turnips are rich in isoflavones and thiocyanate, which can slightly reduce the absorption of intestinal iodine and could lead to a faster progression of hypothyroidism. .

“In addition, the patient needs to lead a healthy life, that is, create a routine with physical activity, a balanced diet, eliminate excess alcohol, smoking and control stress to protect themselves and prevent the disease from progressing”, concludes the Dr. Jaskulski.